Veterinary administrator named interim dean at UF veterinary college

February 22, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dr. James P. Thompson has been named interim dean of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He began serving in that role Feb. 20.

Thompson is the college’s associate dean of students and instruction.
Dr. Douglas Barrett, senior vice president for health affairs, and Jimmy Cheek, vice president of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, appointed him interim dean after Dean Joseph A. DiPietro announced he had accepted a position as vice president for agriculture at the University of Tennessee.

“Dr. Thompson is a longtime faculty member and an alumnus of the college,” Barrett and Cheek said in a joint statement to college faculty, staff and students. “As associate dean for students and instruction since 1996 and a member of the college’s executive team, Jim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. We know you join us in appreciation for Jim’s willingness to take on this responsibility.”

Thompson received both his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and doctoral degrees from UF. He also completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at UF prior to joining the faculty in 1986.

Board-certified in the specialties of internal medicine, immunology, virology, microbiology and oncology, Thompson has won numerous awards both for teaching and research and has served as academic adviser to dozens of veterinary students, residents and interns over the years.
After his days as a graduate student and resident at UF, Thompson became an assistant professor and director of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s immunology service before advancing to full professor and associate dean.

Thompson has been active at the national level in the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. He also is a member of the Morris Animal Foundation’s scientific advisory board.

At the university level, he has served as a member of both the Faculty Senate and Curriculum Committee. He is a member of the UF Health Science Center Academic Deans Council and has served on numerous committees within the veterinary college.

Thompson has continued to teach a course in professional veterinary ethics.

“My focus as interim dean will be to carry forward the plans that Joe DiPietro has established with the expansion of the Veterinary Medical Center’s Small Animal Hospital as a major objective,” Thompson said. “I look forward to serving the college faculty, staff and students as well as the HSC and IFAS to the best of my abilities.”